In a historic leap for urban infrastructure, the city of Bhopal welcomed its first metro rail service on Saturday. The inaugural run was flagged off by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar from the Subhash Nagar station, heralding a new chapter in the capital's public transport.
The Orange Line Priority Corridor: Key Details
The initial launch focuses on a strategically chosen 7-kilometer elevated priority corridor of the Orange Line. This stretch is designed to provide a swift alternative to the city's notoriously congested roads, connecting Subhash Nagar with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
The operational segment features eight elevated stations: Subhash Nagar, Kendriya Vidyalaya, DB Mall, MP Nagar, Rani Kamalapati Station, DRM Office, Alkapuri, and AIIMS. A complete one-way journey between the two terminal stations takes roughly 40 minutes, with trains halting for two minutes at each stop.
This first phase represents a significant investment of ₹2,225 crore, forming part of the grand total of ₹10,033 crore allocated for the full 30.8-kilometer Bhopal Metro network. An official highlighted that this state-of-the-art service aims to make Bhopal more accessible, faster, and eco-friendly.
Schedule, Fares, and Passenger-Centric Features
Regular services for the public will commence on December 21 at 9:00 AM. A straightforward slab-based fare system has been introduced to keep travel affordable and simple:
- ₹20 for travel covering up to two stations.
- ₹30 for a journey spanning three to five stations.
- ₹40 for six to eight stations.
A fleet of 17 trains will operate daily, with the first service departing from AIIMS at 9:00 AM and the final train leaving at 5:00 PM.
The modern three-coach trains are built for comfort, safety, and capacity, able to carry about 980 passengers per trip. Key amenities include:
- Dedicated wheelchair spaces with a special request button for longer stops.
- Enhanced safety through Automatic Doors and Platform Screen Doors (PSDs).
- Full air-conditioning, mobile charging points, and digital display maps.
- Durable, rust-free stainless steel coach bodies.
The Road Ahead for Bhopal's Metro Network
The current launch is just the beginning. The Orange Line is ultimately planned to extend from Subhash Nagar to Karond, covering a total distance of 16.74 kilometers. Simultaneously, work is advancing on the 14.16-kilometer Blue Line, which will connect Bhadbhada to Ratnagiri.
Once complete, these two corridors—the 16.74 km Orange Line and the 14.16 km Blue Line—will form a comprehensive grid facilitating seamless east-west and north-south travel across Bhopal. This integrated network is expected to drastically cut down traffic congestion and significantly uplift the quality of life for the city's residents, marking a transformative era in Madhya Pradesh's urban development.
